Kamat makes a U-turn, says Cong 'best platform' to serve nation

Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat on Thursday withdrew his resignation from the grand old party.

Issuing a statement, Kamat said that a large number of senior party leaders during the last fortnight tried to convince him to rethink on the decision.

"My meeting with my party president Sonia Gandhi helped me to make up my mind that the Congress Party is the best platform to serve the people of this country," he said.

"I will continue to serve under the leadership of Honble Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi and Honble Vice President Mr Rahul Gandhi with the same charge of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu as informed to me late last night," he added.

Kamat, who is the Mumbai Congress' chief, further said that he would be meeting the people of the state beginning tomorrow.

Earlier on June 6, Kamat had resigned from the party and politics.

Kamat then told his supporters in a message that he felt it was time for him to take a backseat to enable others to get an opportunity.

"Dear friends, over the last 44 years, I have worked with most of you and served the Congress. For several months now, I have felt I need to take a backseat to enable others to get an opportunity," he said.

"I met Congress president about 10 days ago and expressed my desire to resign. Subsequently, I sent letters to both Sonia ji and Rahul ji, saying that I would like to exit. Since there was no reply, I have formally informed that I would like to retire from politics," he added.